Appeal Proceedings in Assassination Attempt on PM Case Begins at Supreme Court

Bratislava, 29 April (TASR) - Appeal proceedings in the case of the assassination attempt on Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) in May 2024 began at the Supreme Court on Wednesday. Pensioner Juraj C. [name abbreviated due to legal reasons], who is facing charges of committing a serious crime of terrorist attack, is standing before the court. The Specialised Criminal Court (STS) sentenced him to 21 years in prison last year. The defendant has filed an appeal against the verdict to the Supreme Court. He insists on his appeal. According to last year's ruling of STS, there was no doubt that Juraj C. committed the act; the disputed issue was its legal classification. STS has convicted the shooter of a terrorist attack in a verdict that is not yet final. He was facing life imprisonment. The senate emphasised that the defendant didn't attack the premier as a citizen of the Slovak Republic, but explicitly as the premier, with whose policies he disagreed. Juraj C. during the trial before the first-instance court claimed that he only intended to injure Fico in order to prevent him from continuing in office as premier and didn't intend to kill him. He chose the away-from-home government session in Handlova (Trencin region) to strike. When the premier approached supporters, Juraj C. drew a legally owned firearm and fired five shots at the premier, causing multiple injuries. ko